Chief Executive Tung Chee Wah reviewing PTS graduates

"It is very encouraging for me and the citizens of HongKong to know that the rule of law and order is in the hands of a group of well-equipped, educated, highly trained, disciplined and professional police officers"

DURING his first address as Hong Kong's Chief Executive to the 165 officers graduating from the Police Training School last week, the Honourable Tung Chee Wah said the Hong Kong Police Force has a great responsibility in safeguarding Hong Kong's law and order so as to maintain its prosperity and stability - and to implement fully the policy of "One Country, Two Systems", now that the sovereignty changeover has happened.

¡@Mr Tung applauded the 29 inspectors and 136 police constable graduates who were now part of a Force dedicated to safeguarding law and order in Hong Kong.

¡@He also applauded the Force's vision to maintain Hong Kong as one of the safest and most stable societies in the world. "In fact," he said, "the rule of law and social order in Hong Kong would be threatened without a devoted, progressive, trusted, modernised and professional police force. As such, it is the first priority of our community to maintain a police force of the highest excellence."

¡@Police statistics show that the overall crime rate in the first half of the year has decreased 16.4 per cent from last year, while violent crime also dropped by 11.4 per cent.

¡@Mr Tung said that the law and order situation of Hong Kong clearly reflected the fact that police officers were fulfilling their duties remarkably, keeping law and order effectively, and fully safeguarding the life and property of citizens and investors.

¡@He added that the education standard of recruits is much higher than ever before with many inspectors being university graduates and some constables patrolling the streets having university degrees.

¡@"It is very encouraging for me and the citizens of Hong Kong to know that the rule of law and order is in the hands of a group of well-equipped, educated, highly trained, disciplined and professional police officers," the Chief Executive said before reviewing the contingents of officers on parade.

PTS grads parade proudly past Mr CH Tung Police drums and pipers supply the inspired marching music

Women PCs salute the Chief Executive as they pass Attention! New police graduates reviewed by top brass

Calibre of new recruits high
MORE and more graduates from tertiary institutions are joining the Force at both the probationary inspector and constable levels. Fourteen out of 420 of the most recent recruit constables are university graduates. Indeed, one of the constables who passed out from the Police Training School in mid-August holds a Master degree in Science from Yale University. ¡@"All constables who have a tertiary education background are qualified to join the Force as a probationary inspector. Their progress while under training will be closely monitored. Some will be identified as having the potential for fast promotion and their progress will be monitored by their respective formation commanders. Those with good performance records will be nominated to become a 'potential officer', then nominated for promotion to the inspectorate, normally in two years time." ¡@SP Lau also mentioned that most of them possess the same perceptions with regard to police work, that it is challenging, significant and colourful. ¡@"After graduating from university I spent two years working in a field that in the long term would have been financially rewarding," said one of the recruit constables. "But during that time I decided what I really wanted was a career that, apart from the salary, could provide me with job satisfaction, significance and the feeling that I was making a contribution. So I decided to join the Hong Kong Police. ¡@"I am young and look forward to being promoted. But also, I see the Force as providing an excellent opportunity for self-development. The 27-week course at the Police Training School was very educational in terms of learning about law, policing, court procedure, social studies and team work. And the course work
Fourteen of the 420 most recent recruit constables are university graduates. Pictured here are twelve of the brightest	is supplemented by instruction in self-defence, physical fitness, first aid, swimming, life-saving, firearms training, internal security and drill. ¡@"Despite academic qualifications, however," say SP Lau, "the criterion for promotion ultimately is judged by the officer's performance in his or her work."